Styria1840 - Version 4.00

Hi Folks.

This map is a major update of the original Styria1840 V3.20 map. It contains additional events to enhance freight traffic, more action events and fixes of a few minor issues. It has been the general consensus that this version is a bit easier to play as far as difficulty level is concerned and offers more variety in game play.

The map in general, deals with the early development of railroads in Styria which was part of the former Austrian Monarchy. An effort was made to accurately portray the period’s historic and turbulent events into this map’s game play however, the city names, provinces and most borders are represented as they are presently.

The overall goals and challenges of this map’s game play are as follows:

a.) Provide the “Sudbahn” connection between Wiener Neustadt and Marburg.

b.) Build a minimum amount of rail lines or invest in industry and fulfill a minimum hauling requirement.

c.) Deal with the events surrounding the Revolution of 1848.

d.) Keep the Monarchy and the Public happy.

e.) Provide service to the logging/lumber, iron/metal and coal industries.

f.) Try to connect to all the other Provinces and deliver the required loads.

g.) Have no company debt and have the highest PNW.

Brief description of some of the above goals and challenges:

a.) Sudbahn connection.

Once your rails reach the Murzzuschlag area a suggestion to build a station in Murzzuschlag will be made (Do so). You will be unable to proceed up to the Semmering Pass until two things happen. You have to have $700,000.00 in Company Cash (half of the $1,400,000.00 of extra construction cost) and at the beginning of the yearly construction season (April), your construction companies and managers tell you that they are ready. You have to build a station on top of the Semmering Pass (in the Semmering LA area - right click to locate the area) and suggest you add a water and sanding tower. You will not have to build your own stations in Lower Austria to reach this goal but can connect to stations built by the Nordbahn. Make sure to complete the Semmering Bahn part of the Sudbahn first before connecting Wiener Neustadt to Marburg. Try to complete this map goal as early as possible since other events are based on having this connection made and there will also be bonuses for a early connection.

b.) Build a minimum amount of rail lines or invest in industry and provide a minimum hauling requirement.

At the beginning of the scenario you will be asked to comply with the minimum rail requirement however, you will be given the opportunity to opt out later in the game. The amount of rail built is checked periodically. You might get away with not having the required amount in some years as long as it is not in a year the amount is checked. The amount of required rail as indicated on the status page is what is required by the end of the year. The year-end status report will indicate what is needed by the end of the following year.

c.) Deal with the events surrounding the Revolution of 1848.

The first signs of the revolution period will show up in 1846 with a lowering of the economic activities and end in 1849. Robberies should increase but the increase in breakdowns and crashes is not my doing.

d.) Keep the Monarchy and the Public happy.

Many events will play a role in lowering or increasing your popularity with the monarchy or public. The results of a low popularity are twofold. If it gets too low there is, at a minimum, just a monetary penalty and if it happens too often it will lead to you being replaced. Game over. If you in any one year lower your popularity by too much your tycoon days can also be over.

e.) Provide service to the logging/lumber, iron/metal and coal industries.

Your destiny and that of the Oststeirische Holzerei AG and the Steirische Kohlenbergbau Gmbh. and the Steirische Eisen Werke AG. depends on how well you service those industries. Several events will offer incentives to make the hauling of freight more attractive.

f.) Connection to all provinces and delivery of required loads.

One will first need to make the Sudbahn connection before receiving access rights to the provinces of Carinthia, Burgenland, Salzburg and Upper Austria. Train running rights in a province are given once connection from one of your stations in that province to Graz is made. A newspaper report informs you of this.

One might find the delivery of goods to be a challenge at times since the means of generating it locally might be limited. To deliver goods from outside the local area like Leoben as an example and delivering it to Upper Austria will take about four years. Note that you will not receive the “officially connected” status in a province until you have also delivered the required loads.

Brief description of other events:

a.) Semmering tourist deliveries.

This event plays a bit different from the previous version. The passengers now have to be actually delivered to the station on top of the Semmering Pass. During my games I found it easiest to just set the delivery flag to yellow (Sell only demanded cargo, leave undemanded cargo on the train to be sold later) for the Semmering Pass destination since that destination is not likely to demand passengers. Therefore a train schedule might be:

Murzzuschlag (green-yellow),

Semmering Pass (yellow),

Gloggnitz (green-yellow),

Semmering Pass (yellow).

b.) You will be given an opportunity fairly early in the game to opt out of the minimum rail requirement. Even though this sounds tempting, to pursue this option successfully is a real challenge due to the Industry Investment requirement. It will very likely necessitate the merger of one or more of the three Industrial Companies (Oststeirische Holzerei AG., Steirische Kohlenbergbau Gmbh., and Alpine Eisen Werke AG.) since you will be required to serve those industries anyhow. Just a warning that this opting out might mean “out of the game”.

c.) One might also be tempted to assume the chairmanship of another railroad company. This could result in an early stop to the game since there are checks requiring you to be the chairman of the Kaiserliche Steirische Bahn. Therefore, one needs to be careful in making those excursions.

d.) There are many events offering many choices but one should not assume that all choices offered are good ones. There are some events that have just “bad - bad” choices, others are “good - game over” choices and some lead you down a path you really don’t want to go. But many choices are focused toward supporting the maps main goals however, the effects will not be noticeable until a few years down the road. Most choices however, require careful analysis to establish if the choice one is about to make is really consistent with the tasks at hand or the games overall goals.

General information:

Even though this map is playable for players of all levels of playing experience, it is recommended for intermediate and experienced players. It is also suggested, for more stimulating game play, to select all eight computer players and to select the expert level.

For most of you the names and areas covered on the map will be somewhat alien and as such difficult to remember and/or relate to. At times it might be awkward to make decisions, triggered by events, relating to map locations. Therefore, it is strongly recommended one familiarize oneself first with the overall layout of the map.

Game play can be a difficult over the first few years. Please, read the dialog boxes and newspaper reports carefully since they often contain hints and tips of what one should be doing. During game play please check your “Briefings” to update yourself on some of the activities required or available tasks.

Depending on your style of play a game may last for many hours. Myself, I do a lot of micro-managing and an average game takes a minimum of four to six hours. But don’t let that scare you off. You will hardly notice it.

It is also suggested you save the game often since your response to many events can have dire consequences. At the worst it could be the end of the game right there. But as a astute railroad operator and friend of the Monarchy it most likely will not happen to you.

The loading of this map took on my old computer (233Mhz AMD K6-2) about 4 minutes. So please be patient. It most likely will be worth the wait.

Restrictions:

Restrictions for setting the throttle, starting a new company or multiple companies, are in effect. There are no customs at borders.

Acknowledgements:

As the map was not complete without the comments and suggestions from some people, neither would be this document without mentioning some of their names and efforts. Your continuing support is very much appreciated. I would like to thank all of you and am truly thankful to the following people:

David Gross - Your troubleshooting and professional approach have made my life just that much easier and has saved me again much embarrassment, for sure.

Steven M. - Your in-depth analysis and feedback have greatly contributed to this map and I feel privileged to have had your cooperation in resolving the many issues.

The following additional people have made contributions to prior versions and I am still very much indebted to them also.

CeeBee, DickK, Gwizz, and Doug Rubin.

Contact:

I would appreciate any feedback and advice on how to make this map more enjoyable via email to johnschwarz@hotmail.com.

Good luck, have fun and please don’t forget - it’s only a game.

JSS